Sarajevo, Oct 19: Bosnia's wartime president, Alija Izetbegovic, died today in a Sarajevo hospital at age 78, the Muslim member of Bosnia's Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, told journalists. "President Izetbegovic passed away," Tihic told reporters gathered outside the hospital where he had been admitted last month with four broken ribs.

"I just met with his family and we will soon start to arrange details for his funeral," he added.
Izetbegovic had been placed in intensive care on wednesday after suffering a serial fracture of four left ribs.

Elected chairman of Bosnia's collective Presidency in 1990, Izetbegovic was a key figure during the country's 1992-95 war.

He had reportedy suffered two heart attacks in recent years and in 2002 was fitted with a pacemaker by Slovenian cardiologists.

Bureau Report